The Wilmingtonian., 1887-02-12
The Board of Education.

recognized by the State Legislature which
has made provision of limited nature for
the purposes Of this annually increasing edu-
cational need.
Independent OF what Is required for repair
Of schoolhouses and other property for which
the City Board of Education is responsible
the item Of the gradually increasing demand
for school seatings through increase Of pop.
ulation is the important p lint that constant
ly addresses itself to the Board, and one
that now appears, according to the state
ments of the legislative committee Of the
City Board to demand much larger sppro-
priaton for Its legitimate purposes than thai
sum which the legislature has heretofore
considered sufficient.
1t is at all times incumbent upon the cti-
zens of Wilmington, and therefore upon
their representatives in the State legislature,
to give careful and respectful attention to
what the members of the Board of Educa-
tion have TO say upon this matter. Unlike
other preventative bodies, municipal or
legislative. these gentlemen can be patiently
tolerated for the reason that, receiving no
salary whatever and their positions being
simply honorary ones, serving their terms,
as they do, only for the public good, they
may be considered to have no axe to grind
in asking for more money for educational
needs in Wilmington.
1t is understood that the existing appro-
priation not alone debars the possibility OF
erecting sufficient new schoolhouses to meet
the requirements Of the children Of school
age in the city but also is insufficient to de-
fray the cost of putting the existing struc-
lures, the proper aud efficient condition of
which the City Board OF Education Is ro-
sponsible, in presentabe state for every
day use.
This is the statement made by the Board
of Education of our city.
To meet these desirable needs there is but
one way to follow, that is, of increased tax
ation. Arc we, the citizens ready to meet
that question to the satisfaction of the men,
bers of the Board? II may be taken for
granted that any intelligent community will
give immediate and full aid to deserving, in.
deed peremptory calls, such as that referred
to above. But before expressing final af.
tirmativn opinion it Ia only businesslike and
opportune to inquire how those sums Of
money hitherto considered fairly sufficient
whioii. inclusive of the added yearly more
ment covering the looked for increase o.
population in children of school age Ia th,
city, have been expended, and whether tn,
present unusually large demand made b.
the Board is due to natural CAUSES othe
han those contemplated in a just expendi
ture Of school appropriation monies.
For educational purposes We think syei
many OF the much maigned dem lcrsti,
leaders would not object to an increase O
taxation. Educational needs are more Inn
portant than any III the purview Of genera
public wants. We don't question it, that
the schools are not thoroughly and efficient
ly maintained We shall return to conditio
in which the progress OF tho community wi
be hopeless. Tf It were absolutely neoe
Delaware's metropolis Democrat or Repul
icau who would hesitate in endorsing pr,
ject to raise the city tax from Al 25, as
stood under the recent Republican regim
And that although the Demool attic retui
to power has been most worthily signalizt
by tax reduction from 81 so TO ~ 25.
q But the position of those upon the Boal
q Of Education who are anxious to see Il
: schools OF our city 10 an efficient workir
status and 80 maintained is one that requir
of the Legislature a recognition of things
. they exist now. Tho school buildings a
n net in good state of repair Some of Il
a structures are in actual dillapidation.
: would take several thousand dollars TO pla
them in proper state of repair. Two mo
i new school editices are needed, simply in {
n der that the children Of the city Of scho
y age, and entitled to the advantages OF col
: mon school education, be afforded what
\ due to them. Then there ia debt of sol
!, 100000 or 12, 900 accumulat ns, These poir
. independent Of the additional sums requir
on account of the natural increase of
/, number OF children OF school age tugeth
ia with which woald be added the cost of ext
Id teachers and concurrently of the school p;
70 aphernalia Of tile new schools. All tn,
things have to be considered. Q herw'se
Board of Education cannot continue do
that work for which It was elected by
~ citizens.
bt 1t may be claimed that the reSssn Of
is present shortage is that 500, 900 has been
pended upon new High School bnildil
10 But that structure is practically a comm
=, school. 1t answered the purpose Of reli
to ing the pressure upon the other schools,
n fording hundreds of additional seatings j
on al time when such we're most needed.